Christopher Edge Author Interview

TL;DR

Christopher Edge discusses his inspiration, character development, and writing process, emphasizing the importance of reading and daily writing practice.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to the first in the series of Oxford Reading Hive interviews I'm delighted to welcome the author of Twelve Minutes to Midnight, The Many Worlds of Albie Bright, the Jaime Drake Equation and most recently The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day which has been nominated for the 2019 Carnegie Medal when he isn't writing fiction he encourage... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥰 Edge's childhood reading influences and love for exploring various types of stories shaped his creativity.
• 🚨 He merges science concepts with character-driven narratives, emphasizing the importance of character perspectives.
• 🫠 Edge's writing process focuses on emotional arcs and detailed descriptions to create immersive storytelling.
• 🫠 Practical tips for aspiring writers include reading regularly, writing daily, and focusing on the details that create vivid imagery.
• ❓ Edge's approach to character development involves infusing aspects of himself and portraying characters' intense curiosity.
• 🫠 Structuring stories involves plotting emotional arcs and considering how characters change throughout the narrative.
• 💦 Edge highlights the importance of perseverance in writing and not comparing initial drafts to polished works.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Christopher Edge as a child and how does he find inspiration today?

Christopher Edge was inspired by various books as a child and now finds inspiration in everyday life by joining different ideas together to spark a story idea.

Q: How does Christopher Edge approach character development, especially for young protagonists like Maisie Day?

Edge infuses aspects of himself into his characters and emphasizes understanding their perspective to portray their intense curiosity about the world.

Q: What is Christopher Edge's approach to structuring his stories, like in "The Many Worlds of Albie Bright"?

Edge plans his stories emotionally, focusing on character arcs and how each experience changes the protagonist, allowing the story to evolve organically.

Q: What tips does Christopher Edge offer aspiring writers, especially for those writing short pieces?

Edge advises aspiring writers to read extensively, write daily even in small amounts, and not be discouraged by comparing their initial work to finished novels.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Christopher Edge discusses his childhood reading influences, how he finds inspiration in everyday life, and how character development is essential in his storytelling.

• He explains how his stories usually start with characters and how he creatively merges science concepts with character-driven narratives.

• Edge shares insights on his writing process, including structuring story arcs, using detailed descriptions, and offering practical tips for aspiring writers.